Match report

HSV run riot in 4-1 victory over Düsseldorf

Goals from Muheim (7’), Selke (40’), Karabec (66’) and Stange (90+4’) secured a huge win for the Rothosen in front of a sold-out crowd at the Volksparkstadion. Kownacki equalized for Düsseldorf in the 18th minute.

HSV have maintained their unbeaten streak at the Volksparkstadion, as Merlin Polzin’s side thumped Fortuna Düsseldorf 4-1 in the primetime fixture of matchday 25. Miro Muheim’s wondergoal put the Rothosen in front after seven minutes in front of 57,000 fans in the sold-out stadium. Dawid Kownacki converted the visitors’ only opportunity of the first half to level the game against the run of play (18’). Davie Selke’s 17th goal of the season ensured that HSV ended the half 2-1 up (40’). Adam Karabec added to the Rothosen’s tally after the break (66’), with substitute Otto Stange sealing the deal to clinch the ninth home win of the season. The three points mean that HSV also return to the top of the 2. Liga.

Davie Selke was unstoppable in the Düsseldorf box and headed home Dompe's corner powerfully to make it 2-1.

An early lead…

The Rothosen started brightly and aggressively against a Düsseldorf side clad in purple kits. It was one-way traffic from the outset, and they got their reward in the seventh minute of the match. Muheim staked his claim for March’s goal of the month prize with a sensational strike from more than 25 yards out to give HSV the lead. The match remained one-sided, as HSV piled on the pressure, boxed the visitors in their own half and continued to carve out big chances.

Selke had the chance to head home HSV’s second, before Sahiti fired over a virtually empty goal, with Mikelbrencis and Karabec also having good efforts from the edge of the box. HSV were well and truly on top but had to deal with a Düsseldorf equaliser. Shockingly, Kownacki took the away side’s only chance of the first half to flip the game on its head and make it 1-1. Polzin’s side shook themselves off quickly and continued to get forward, create chances and then took the lead again in typical fashion – through a Selke header from a corner. In the 40th minute, Dompe whipped a cross into the five-yard box, where Selke duly nodded the ball into the back of the net to put his side back in front. It was well deserved given the Rothosen’s courageous performance, who looked assured, strong in the tackle and alert at the back—aside from the Düsseldorf goal—and attacked with energy. HSV were especially dangerous down the left flank and headed into the interval with a deserved 2-1 lead.

The perfect ending that made the Volksparkstadion roar: Otto Stange made it 4-1 after coming off the bench.

…and Stange with the icing on the cake

The Rothosen continued to set the tone straight after the interval. At times, they had 70% possession and were winning 55% of the total challenges. All this was not against just any team either, rather against the side that is four points off the top of the table and has only lost one of their last 18 away matches. But Düsseldorf just didn’t do enough to play to their strengths against this HSV side.

When, after around an hour of play, they had a small period of pressure, the hosts ruthlessly hit back and extended their lead. Karabec tried his luck after a wonderful passage of play and the ball hit the post, bounced off keeper Kastenmeier’s back and found the back of the net to extend his side’s lead. HSV’s third goal really seemed to take the wind out of Fortuna’s sails, as the home side were able to keep the ball and the opposition moving to bring the victory home – cheered on by an at times deafeningly loud crowd at the Volksparkstadion. And things went from good to better with a fourth goal, scored by substitute Stange in front of the Nordkurve to put the cherry on top of an unbelievably successful evening for HSV. After celebrating an excellent evening of football and a well-deserved victory with the rapturous home fans, the HSV players departed the Volksparkstadion as league leaders of the 2. Liga.

Match stats:

Hamburger SV: Heuer Fernandes - Mikelbrencis (76' Hefti), Hadzikadunic, Elfadli, Muheim - Meffert - Karabec (85' Richter), Reis (90+3' Stange) - Sahiti (85' Balde), Selke (76' Königsdörffer), Dompe

Fortuna Düsseldorf: Kastenmeier - Heyer, Oberdorf, Hoffman (76' Iyoha), Siebert, Gavory (86' van Brederode) - Zimmermann, Kwarteng (52' Appelkamp), Johannesson - Kownacki (86' Niemiec), Pejcinovic (76' Vermeij)

Goals: 1-0 Muheim (7'), 1-1 Kownacki (18') 2-1 Selke (40'), 3-1 Karabec (66'), 4-1 Stange (90+4')

Attendance: 57,000 (sold-out)

Referee: Dr. Florian Exner (Münster)

Yellow cards: Selke (68'), / Kastenmeier (8'), Siebert (58'), Hoffmann (68'), Zimmermann (90+5')